The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-30
W.g.WCKRELL,OF EUTAW,
SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS In
The PENITRNTIARY
or Mississippi, for Burglary Perpe-
trated ct Columbus, Tells q
Story That Ii
ALTOGETHER 100 THIN AND
WON'T BEAR WASHING.
His First Crime Perpetrated In
Alabama, and Service Of Eight
Years In the Pratt Mines.
looKKxSyoNprNoK OF rur ,ppKAL.I

COLUMBUS, Misc, June 28.- About
the lst OF last May this place was in
iected with burglars for a week. Sew
ersl houses were broken into and arti-
Giles stolen. From the residence Ct
DR.. F. M. McOabe gold watch and
overcoat, few other articles OF cloth
ing and s. in money were taken. The
residence Of Mr.. j. s Billups was en-.
tered but the burglar was seen and
run of before anything was taken,
and on the came night the residence
OF Msj X. w. Jones, president OF the
industrial College, was also entered.
A silver moasses pitcher, some butter
and some cold biscuits and meat were
stolen. Oar police force did every
thing In their power to catch the
robber hut 10 no purpose. On the
10th OF May @ telegram was received
stating that man had been arrested
In Macon, Miss, having in his pos.
session articles answering the descrip-
ton OF t7ose missing here. Chief Of
Police Eggleston went to Macon and
brought the prisoner here. The arti.
cles were fully identified, and the
prisoner, who gave his name as Charles
Pelham, placed in jail TO await the
action Of the Circuit Court. The
grand jury found true bill against
Pelham for burglary and larceny, and
his trial came up on June "a, 1887. In
the meantime, however, pelham I"
had been identified as William Il.
Cockrell,. Of Eutaw, Ala, who lad
been convicted OF receiving stolen
goods and ssnt to the penitentiary for
eight years. He was at work in the
Pratt coal mines, and made his escape
March 28th. What induced him
10 escape no one could tell,
as the eight years to which
he was sentenced lacked only about
ninety days Of being out Cockrell was
tried and convicted on June oath
and 81 ntenced 10 five years in the PEN
iten,iary. During his trial he was
repIei ented by no att rney, but man
aged his case himself, and spoke in
his own defense. When he first roEe
TO speak be seemed embarresse and
hesitated some, but soon becoming
moe enthusfd, he lost his fear aud
his words rolled cut freely and nat
uTfllJ lib NytH hteLCul hhO auJ Olio
seeing him would scarcely have rec.
o9nized him ss the poor, emaciated
priEoner who was brought here so
81 OFT a time before. 1t could be seen
at glance that he had spoken In pub
lie many times before. This fact,
c1up'ed with various rumors concern
ing bis past life, caused your CORE
spondent to visit him at the jail In
order 10 learn the truth. He is about
fivs feet ten inches tai, Of slender
build, with light brown or rather chest
nut hair, AID blue eyes, noticeable on
account Of the darkness and extreme
size OF the pupils, thin, reddish brown
AID chin whiekers and few
struggling ha'rs ON his aide lace, he
net having been shaved for months.
He was dressed In coarse, dark suit,
much the worse for wear, coarse, heavy
shoes aud q black s'ouch hat.
The interview lasted nearly two
hours, his scruples finally being over.
come and his story occurred, which is
as follows: